Telecommuting not only provides financial incentives but also helps the environment, decreasing traffic and pollution in congested cities, said Robert Shea, associate director for management at the federal Office of Management and Budget.

“It allows them to maximize use of their greatest resource — their people,” he said, referring to the benefits federal agencies receive. “If people can do their jobs off-site and that makes them happier, they’ll be more productive.”

At Sprint Nextel, managers have discretion over telecommuting, though the Reston company prefers for employees to have worked there for at least six months. Their Work Anywhere program provides employees with a productivity kit, which includes items such as a cell phone, laptop and flash-drive device.

“I would say we certainly recognize the growing prominence of remote working in all companies,” he said. “Sprint always tries to offer as much flexibility to employees as possible,” spokesman Rich Pesce said.

Because eligibility policies vary among companies, however, many employees simply don’t know if they are eligible or not, said Firooz Ghanbarzadeh, director of technology services and solutions at CDW-G.

“The private sector is lagging when it comes to allowing employees to telework,” said Ken Grimsley, vice president of strategic sales for CDW-G. “Executive decision makers need to better understand the importance of having a telework program — such as ensuring the ability to operate during a storm, pandemic or other disaster,” he said.